This General has caused a lot stir over the years. He has clearly been a resound opposition during the years of 2013, as he revealed the “Project Muhoozi” and the plan of ushering the first son as the successor of the President. He went a year away in Exile and formed a political party Freedom and Unity Front (FUF), which he used as a vehicle in exile.
Gen. David Sejusa aka Tinyefuza aka Tinye have a huge standing in the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) as he served as army commander and also a member of High Command UPDF, the UPDF defense council and a member of parliament representing the Uganda People’s Defence Force.
Reported about his first retirement request:
“On December 3, 1996, Sejusa who was then a presidential aisor on Defence and Internal Affairs, wrote to President Museveni as commander in chief, resigning from the UPDF. “With great difficulty, I have decided to resign as a member of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces…There are several reasons but most important among those is that I feel I am unjustly being harassed over my testimony before that Parliamentary Committee…To require me to appear before the High Command so that action is taken against me is rather too high handed,” Sejusa wrote” (The Observer – ‘Retirement – Will Sejusa Have His Way This Time?’ 03.01.2015).
Reported about his second retirement request:
“Once again, it all depends on the wish of President Museveni as commander in chief. Dr Busingye Kabumba, a constitutional law lecturer at Makerere University, said in a Monday interview that legally speaking Sejusa can succeed in his quest to retire. “Gen Sejusa enjoys the right to retire or resign for as long as he follows the established procedure. But the grant of his wish is a matter that is dependent on the political reality of the time,” Kabumba said” (The Observer – ‘Retirement – Will Sejusa Have His Way This Time?’ 03.01.2015).
He has blocked his request again in 2022:
“The judges explained that the approval of the application to resign can be withheld on reasonable grounds and that the effect of not communicating the approval or disapproval of the application meant that Gen Sejusa continued to be a serving army officer. “ln practical terms, he remained the serving officer of the UPDF after the statutory 90 days and this amounted in practicaI effect, for the intervening period before he receives his or her approval or refusal of the approval, a refusal.” The Court of Appeal consequently overturned the judgment by Justice Margaret Oumo Oguli that had indicated the Gen Sejusa had been retired from the army” (Kenneth Kazibwe – ‘Government wins case to have Gen Sejusa back in army’ 14.02.2022).
The NRA Commander and insider within the National Resistance Movement who fell out with the President. Is clearly not allowed or blocked from civilian life. As he has lost his privileges in Parliament and within the UPDF. However, his still a soldier in their eyes. While Gen. Sejusa haven’t been involved or worked within the national army for years.
We know the fallout was already in 2013 and that’s 9 years ago. The General is close to 10 years in defiance of the President. The President did promise his retirement in 2019 but the Courts have clearly not allowed it. Therefore, the General is still part of UPDF to this day.
Just imagine when the Party and the Government can do this to its own. A man who was a commander and a resolute soldier in their liberation war. When they can retaliate and act this way towards him. Yes, his been an insider and has vast knowledge of how the NRA, UPDF and NRM operated. As he was a trusted army commander and he did excel in his role. However, his still a person who has his rights and is justified to retire.
The reason for not doing is, as simple as if he speaks or utter words of defiance he can be challenged in Court Martial and be seen as treasonous. It would like his mutineer and going against the army, which he happens to represent. Even if he hasn’t been in command or held an office within it for years. That’s the only reason for this quagmire and lack of results.
It’s tragic, but it’s like the saying:
“Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer”. That’s evident here and it’s all in the open for the whole word to digest. Peace.
MinBane 